One to three letters can make all the difference in an article, as CNN found out on October 29th, after making two embarrassing typos in major news stories.
"One of the best teams ever? That's what a lot of people are calling the Boston Red Sex this morning, after the team won the Fall Classic with a 5-1 drubbing of the Los Angeles Dodgers last night in Game 5," read one article.
The Boston Red Sex did not beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Boston Red Sox most certainly did.
And that wasn't the only typo CNN made on the important news of the day.
The network also mistakenly said that Cesar Sayoc, the suspect in a string of attempted mail bombings targeting prominent Democrats, "could get up to 48 hours in prison if convicted."
48 hours for 15 bombs doesn't really seem fair or accurate, does it?
Luckily, CNN issued an apology email with the corrected text not long after:
Thanks @CNN for sending an email apology to readers (who subscribe to your newsletter, I think) for making typo mis… https://t.co/SkLuYSod8o— Amanda 李 (@Amanda 李) 1540860006.0
"We meant Red Sox and not Red Sex. Embarrassing!" Ah, we can hear the nation of eighth grade boys laughing even as this sentence is typed.
And, "More importantly, the package bombing suspect could get up to 48 years in prison if convicted, not 48 hours -- like our typo said," the email finished.
Don't write copy before you drink coffee. Cheers to the Boston Red Sex. https://t.co/oDnnySqAS6— Adam Yosim (@Adam Yosim) 1540815196.0
Thank you CNN for getting my day started with a good laugh. The Red Sex won the World Series last night and the pip… https://t.co/t3wU4Bol6g— Gabe Kornell (@Gabe Kornell) 1540820585.0
@CNN 48 hours or 48 years? https://t.co/AQ7U9stDjq— DIEGO PARRA (@DIEGO PARRA) 1540817661.0
"Once again, please accept our apologies," wrote CNN. "We try to do our best, but sometimes we fall short."
.@CNN How ‘bout them Red Sex?? #autocorrect https://t.co/s02lCRM2Sy— ShanaClaremont (@ShanaClaremont) 1540818605.0
CNN called them the Red Sex and now I can't stop thinking of the possibilities with "Mask of the Red Sex."— Nicole Rodovsky (@Nicole Rodovsky) 1540914804.0
If you ever feel bad about a typo, remember that CNN called them the "Boston Red Sex" in their morning email to, pr… https://t.co/4n9fy9w403— Sammi Hoover 🍕 (@Sammi Hoover 🍕) 1540812907.0
Quite honestly the only thing keeping me going on this dreary Monday is the fact CNN accidentally said “Red Sex” in… https://t.co/NDrhrqq3tw— Kat (@Kat) 1540842300.0
I’m glad CNN emailed me about the Boston Red SEX winning the World Series last night. #BostonRedSox #WorldSeries… https://t.co/c2X3KPsnv9— Peter Planamente (@Peter Planamente) 1540825855.0
In my mail from CNN this a.m...Red Sex? #5things@cnn.com #redsox https://t.co/LZ2qsdlbr7— H.E. Mayer (@H.E. Mayer) 1540827862.0
Boston Red Sex? @CNN has a serious case of the Mondays. https://t.co/uHM6NJsXXy— Amy Fletcher Faircloth (@Amy Fletcher Faircloth) 1540826026.0
The only thing red here is our faces.
H/T: Daily News, Twitter